Magazine fire-arm



b e 6 h S W 6 6 h s 4 M R A E un B T. F PE m M G A M m d 0 M 0 W Patented Mar. 18,1890.

WITNESSES: A M W N PETER$ Phalolilnogmpher, wmm m no (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. S-PORER.

MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 423,453. Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-SheetB. M. SPORER. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

' (No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. SPORER.

v MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 423,453. Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

WITNESSES: l/VVE/VTOI? UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

MATHIAS SPORER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 423,453, dated March 18, 1890.

Application filed August 15, 1889- Serial No. 320,834- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, MATHIAS SPORER, of Hartford,cou nty of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to so improve the magazine fire-arm for which Letters Patent were granted to me, N 0. 320,186, dated June 16, 1885, that the construction of the cartridge-feeding mechanism is simplified and rendered more effective, that the cartridges are conveyed from the magazine located in the butt in a more reliable manner to the cartridge-feeding mechanism, and that the connection of the breech-bolt with the ca rtridge-feedin g mechanism is simplified and rendered more effective, so that the fire-arm can be quickly changed from magazine firing to single firing, and vice-versa. 1

The invention consists, first, in the improved construction of the cartridge-feeding mechanism by Whichthe cartridges are transferred from the magazine to the receiver back of the breech; secondly, inthe arrangement of a spring-actuated follower in the magazine located in the butt, by which the cartridges are fed in a reliable manner to the cartridgefeeding mechanism, and, thirdly, in the connection of the cartridge-feeding: mechanism with the sliding breechfbolt, as will be fully described hereinaftenand finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents .a side elevation of my improved magazine fire-arm, partly in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of-the butt, showing the magazine and the cartridge feeding mechanism drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a top view of the cartridge-feeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line as m, Fig. 3', showing the cartridge-carrier and the mechanism by which the cartridge is released and transferred to the receiver. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, drawn on a larger scale, of the breech, showing the breech-bolt in side elevation.- Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line y 3 Fig. 6, the breechbolt being removed and showing the coupling piece by which the connection of the breechbolt with the cartridge-feeding device is es 'tablished; and Figs. 8 and 9 are a detail botcoupling-piece and its retaining-spring, ac

cording as the breech-bolt is set for magazine r or single firing.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referringto the drawings, A represents the barrel, B the receiver at the breech of the same, and C the sliding breech-bolt, which is accurately fitted to the breech of the barrel. The breech-bolt C is guided in the receiver and operated by means of a hand-lever C in the usual manner.

The breech-bolt C is made of any wellknown and approved construction. and provided with a firing-pin and cartridge-shell extractor, as customary in breech-bolts of this class.

The receiver B is provided with a side opening I) and a bottom opening I), the former being used for. inserting the-cartridges for single firing, while the latter is used for feeding the cartridgesjfroin the magazine to the receiver. The bottom opening b is connected by an inclined well D with an inclined tubular channel D, that extends in backward direction along the bottom part of the stock into the butt E and through'the entire length of the same, as shown in Fig. 1.

A magazine F is arranged in the butt E, and is of such size that six or more cartridges, according to the size of the same, can be placed into the magazine. The lower part of the magazine communicates with an opening in the tubular channel D, so that the cartridges can be conveyed successively from the magazine into the same. The top part of the magazine F is closed by means of a hinged lid F, which is retained in closed position by a locking device formed of a keeper f X and a sliding and spring-actuated bolt 7-', guided in said keeper and havin a downwardly-extending arm f, which is curved at the lower end and provided with a notch f that engages atransverse pin f in the butt E. The lid F is provided with a forwardly-extending heel f that extends over the butt and serves for being taken hold of by the fingers in opening the magazine. A lifting pressure exerted by the finger on the lid F causes the release of the notched locking-arm f from the transverse pin f and permits the lid to be swung on its pivot into backward direction over the butt, so as to open the magazine andpermit the refilling of the same with a new set of cartridges. To the under side of the lid F is hinged, near the front part of the magazine, a follower F which is pressed in downward direction by a springlii so as to press on the cartridges andfprodu'ce'the regular downward feeding of the same through the opening-in the tubular channel D into the cartridge-carrier located below'the magazine.

The cartridge-carrier 'G is connected by-a slide-rod G, hav-inga recessed front end, with the breech-bolt O, and coupled to or uncoupled f-rom the same by means of an:axially-turningcoupling-piece 0 so that the reciprocating motion which is imparted to the breech-bolt imparts at the same ti-mea reciprocating motion to the cartridge-carrier G.

The cartridge-carrier G corresponds in its general shape to the. shape of the cartridge and is formed of an open frame, the-side walls of which are each provided with a longitudin'al slit g, that divides the side walls of the carrier into two longitudinal parts g 9 .of which the upper parts g are connected by a transverse bridge g as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower parts 9 are not connected 'at their rear ends, and have therefore a certain lateral spring action. The rear ends of the upper and lower parts g g of the carrier Gare provided at-the inner sides with recessesg for the rims of the cartridges, the

for-ward edges of the recesses of the-upper parts g being inclined, so as to guide the rim-of the cartridges into the 'reces'ses'of the lower-parts g as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The carrier G is guided on the side walls of the tubular channel D, said sidewalls having a shoulder g which forms, with the downwardly-projecting shoulder g of the lower parts 9 of the'carrier G, stop devices for the carrier. The transverse bridge g of the'upper parts g of the carrier G is guided on the top part of the tubular shell D, a recess being provided for this purpose in the butt, as shown in Fig. 3. In the rear'wall of the channel D is secured a fixed guide-bolt 'D ,'whieh guide-bolt has a stop-pin tat its front-end, said stop-pin serving to engage longitudinal slots t of a sleeve D ,that is guided on the bolt D and moved in forward direction by a strong spiral spring t which is interposed between the sleeve D and a shoulder at therear end of the fixed guide-bolt D The guide-sleeve D is steadily guided in the space between the fixed bolt D and the surrounding rear part of the tubular shell D. The cartridge, which is conveyed from the magazinethrough the opening of the tubular channel D into the carrier G, rests by its rimmed end against the sleeve D and is engaged at the rim by the shoulders of the recesses g of the side walls 9 and moved against the counter-pressure of the springs 15 of the guide-sleeve D in backward direction with the carrier in following the backward motion of the breech-bolt O. The carrier G moves along the recessed side walls of the tubular channel D until the rear endsof the lower parts 9 abut against the beveled cheeks h at the sides of the tubular sleeve D, which cheeks tend to spread the ends of theparts g in lateral direction, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the recessed rear ends of the same .re-

lease the rimoftheeartridge.and permit, by

the simultaneous forward motion of the spring-actuated guide-sleeve D, the quick forward shooting of the cartridge, which is thereby propelled through the channel 'D and inclined well E into the receiver 13 and into line with the breech-bolt C, and then transferredbythe forward motion of the lat ter into-the breech of the barrel. This action takes placeat the end of the backward stroke of the breech-bolt, as at-that moment the cartridge-"carrierarrives at the end of its backward motion, so'that the lower spring parts 9 of the same abut against the beveled-cheeks h of the tubular'shell D, and are spreadapart,

so as to produce the release of the cartridge and the forward propulsion of the same by the quick forward motion of the-spring-actuated guide-sleeve D The front end of the eartridge-carrier :G is provided with adishing guard-pieceGt that is pivoted to the carrier G and provided at one side with a downwardlyextending lug m, thatdropsinto a recess m in the-side wall of the tubular channel D when thecarrier is in its normal position or rest, asshown in Fig. Duringthe backward motion-of the carrier G thezguard-piece G is lifted so as to exert a lifting action' 'on the front endof the cartridge resting on the guard-piece, so as to retain'the cartridge in connectionwith the inclined front edges of the recesses g of the upper parts g and prevent it-from interfering with the cartridge in the carrier .during the forward shooting of the latter after it is released from the carrieg, This lifting of the cartridge takes place against thedownward pressure of the'follower, and holds thereby-the cartridge next'above the one in the carrier in position, while securing the reliable feeding of one cartridge after the other into the carrier G and the well of the channel D. The carrier G is either madein one piece withthe connecting slide-rod G .or connected thereto in suitable manner, said sliderod. being guided along the top of the channel D, in connection with a fixed transverse bridge or keeper n, that is dovetailed across the top refront end of the slide-rod G,

cessed part of the channel D in. front of its well below the magazine, as shown 7 clearly in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The connecting-rod G. is thereby guided steadily and reliably, which is necessary for the proper backward and forward motion of the carrier.

j The front end of the slide-rod G is recessed and engaged by a downwardly-extending arm 0 of the coupling-piece C by which the connection of the breech-bolt O with the sliderod G is made. The coupling-piece C is clearly in Fig. 9. It is guided in a longitudinal groove 0 of the receiver B, while the arm 0 is guided ina longitudinal slot 0 of the stock. At the -front end of the coupling-piece O is arranged a lug p, which engages alongitudinal groove 12 of the breech-bolt C, said groove having a curved rear end 19?, that is guided-alon g the log 19 when the breech-bolt is turned onits axis in closing the breech. When they breech-bolt is moved back to such an extent that the forward end of the longitudinal groove 19 abuts against the lug p, the coupling-piece C is carried along by the breech-bolt C, and thereby the cartridgecarrier moved backward to the same extent until the cartridge is released and transferred into the receiver B. The coupling-piece C is provided with a handle q, by which the same can be turned on its axis, in the recess of the receiver B.

To prevent the accidental turning of the coupling-piece Oia'locking-spring s is arranged, which engages a longitudinal groove 8 of the coupling-piece C", as shown clearly in Fig. the coupling-piece C sidewise of the rear part of the groove 8 serves-to lock the coupling-piece C after the same has been turned on its axis, as shown in detail in Figs. 14 and 15. v

Vhen it is desired to use the fire-.armfor single firing, the coupling-piece C, is moved out of engagement with the groove 19' of the breech-bolt O, which is accomplished by pressing the handle q sidewise, so as to turn the coupling-piece on its axis. This throws the locking-pin 8 into engagement with the notch s as shown in Fig. 15, and disengages thereby the coupling-piece C from the breechbolt 0, as well as from the recessed end of the connecting-rod G of the carrier G, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

lVhen magazine firing is required, the

coupling-piece C is moved back into the position shown in Fig. 14 by pressing again on the handle q, so that its front lug 19 engages again the groove 19' of the breech-bolt C and its downwardly-extending arm 0 the recessed as shown, respectively, in Figs. 10, 11, and 14. The locking-spring s then engages the longitudinal groove 8 and keeps the coupling-piece in proper position for keeping up the connection between the breech-bolt and cartridgecarrier. For single firing, the fire-arm is used in the ordinary manner, the cartridge being shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and in detail 7. A notch s of inserted through the side opening 1) into the receiver and moved into the forward and locking motion of the breechbolt.

In magazine firing the connection between the breech-bolt and cartridge-carrier. is established, so that the cartridges are fed successively by the cartridge-impelling mechanism into the receiver until the magazine is exhausted. As soon asthe magazineis empty the magazine is refilled byt-ransferringa'new set of cartridges into the same.

The advantages of my improved construction, as compared to the construction shown in my prior patent, are that the cartridgefeeding mechanism is considerably,simplified, M

and thereby rendered more reliable; secondly, that the supply .of cartridges from 'the magazine to the cartridge-carrier is more re-I breech by the liable and effective; thirdly, that theilid of the magazine can be opened and closed with greater facility, and, lastly, that the connec-.

tion of the cartridge-feeding mechanism with the breech-bolt is rendered simpler and more effective. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent- 1 1. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of a reciprocating breech-bolt, a receiver having an inclined Well, a tubular cha'nnelfex tending from the well to the rear part of the butt, a magazinelocated in the butt and'come municat-ing with said channel, a cartridgecarrier guided on the side walls of the chah:

nel and having 1ongitudinally-slotted;side

walls, a spring-actuated sleeve ba'ckof said carrier, a slide-rod connecting the front end of the carrier with the breech-bolt, and a coupling-piece by which the slide-rod'is con-I nected with or disconnected from the breech-. bolt, substantially as set forth. i.

2. Ina magazine fire-arm, thecombinationof a magazine in the butt, a tubular channel having an openingwommunicating with the magazine, a cartridge-carrier guided on the side walls of the tubular channel and provided with longitudinal slits in its side walls, forming upper and lower parts, a bridge for the upper parts of the side walls, a springactuated sleeve back of the carrier, and fixed inclined cheeks or abutments in line with the lower parts of the carrier, whereby said lower parts are spread apart for releasing the cartridge and subjecting it to the propelling action of the sleeve, substantially as set forth.

3. In a magazine fire-arm, a cartridge-carrier for transmitting the cartridges from the magazine to the receiver, said carrier being provided with longitudinally slitted side walls, a transverse bridge connecting the upper parts of the side walls and with recesses at the inner rear ends of the upper and lower parts, substantially as set forth.

4. In a magazine firearm, the combination of a cartridge-carrier guided on the side walls of the tubular channel and provided with longitudinally-slitted side walls, intermediate mechanism connecting the carrier with the breech-bolt, a pivoted guard-piece at the front end of the carrier, said guard-piece being provided with a log adapted to engage a depression in the side wall of the channel, while the rear ends of the side walls of the carrier are recessed and provided with inclined shoulders for separating the cartridge in the magazine from the cartridge in the carrier, substantially as set forth.

5. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination of the magazine located in the butt, atubular channel communicating with the magazine and extending from the same to the receiver, a cartridgeecarrier guided on the side walls of the tubular channel and having longitudinally-slitted side walls with laterally-spreading lower parts, a sprin g-actuated guide-sleeve abutting against the rear end of the carrier, and fixed and beveled cheeks or abutments back of the carrier for spreading the lower parts of the carrier and releasing the cartridge and subjecting it to the action of the guide-sleeve, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a magazine fire-arm, of a magazine, a, hinged lid therefor, a follower hinged to the under side of said lid opposite the front end of the magazine and projecting thereinto, and a spring-plate fixed at its rear end to theunder side of said lid opposite the rear end of the magazine, the free front end of said spring being inclined downwardand forming contact with said follower and being adapted to fold up into contact with said lid under the action of the follower when the magazine is filled.

7. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination, with a magazine in the butt, of a hinged lid having a projecting heel at the front end, a guided and spring-actuated slide-bolt below said heel, said slide-bolt having a downward lyextending and notched arm,anda transverse pin engaged by said notched arm for locking the lid, substantially as set forth.

8. In a magazine fire-arm, the combination, With a reciprocating breech-bolt, a receiver having an inclined well, a tubular channel extending from the well into the butt, a magazine in the butt communicating with said channel, a cartridge-carrier guided on the tubular channel below the magazine, a springactuated guide-sleeve, fixed and beveled abutv, ments for releasing the sidewalls of the cartridge-carrier from the rim ofthe cart-ridge, a slide-rod extending from the cartridge to the breech-bolt, and a coupling-piece having a lug for engaging the breech-bolt and a downwardly-extending arm for engaging the 'recessed front end of the slide-rod, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the receiver B, the reciprocating breech-bolt O, the couplingpiece 0 adapted to engage the breech bolt and connecting slide-bolt of the cartridge-carrier, and a spring-lock for retaining the coupling-piece in or out of connection with the breech-bolt, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the receiver B, the reciprocating breech-bolt 0, having a longitudinal groove 19' 19 the coupling-piece O having a lug p for engaging the groove, 19' 19 a handle (1 and a downwardly-extending arm 0 for engaging the slide-rod of the cartridgecarrier, a locking-spring s, which engages, respectively, a grooves ora notch s of the coupling-piece, so as to retain the same either in or out of engagement with the breech-bolt, substantially as set forth.

.In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATHIAS SPORER.

Witnesses:

S. H. CURTISS, J. K. LANMANN. 

